🌱 County Election Warehouse Opening + Butterfly Encounter Is Back

Hey, everybody! I'm back with your fresh edition of the Sandy Springs Patch newsletter, fresh off the presses. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny and hot. High: 94 Low: 70.
• Wednesday: Periods of sun; hot, humid. High: 94 Low: 77.

Here are the top three stories today in Sandy Springs:

1. Fulton County's new Elections Hub and Operations Center warehouse is set to open soon, with hopes for an Aug. 3 ribbon cutting. The 600,000-square-foot building will serve as a place to store election equipment and accommodate workers on election nights, in addition to offering office space for Emergency Management, Information Technology, Clerk of Courts, and Real Estate & Asset Management. The warehouse will also have room for the sheriff's office, marshals' service, and county police department to store evidence. (Subscription: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
2. The Chattahoochee Nature Center's Butterfly Encounter experience is officially back. The experience featuring hundreds of native butterflies is open daily through Aug. 6 and is included in general admission to the center. You can learn more and purchase tickets here. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
3. Fulton County Schools is seeking public feedback as it develops its instructional calendar for the 2025-2026 school year. You can provide feedback by taking this survey that will ask one open-ended question, ask you to consider and assign ratings for some of the ideas shared by others, and learn what's important to the others who have provided feedback. (Fulton County Schools via Facebook)

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Today and tomorrow in and around Sandy Springs:

Tuesday, July 18

• Boy George And Culture Club At Cadence Bank Amphitheater in Chastain Park, Atlanta (7:00 PM)

Wednesday, July 19

• Screening Of "The Neverending Story" At The Springs Cinema & Taphouse (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Tickets for Sandy Springs inaugural wine festival are now on sale. The festival will take place on Sunday, Oct. 1, with a limit of 300 ticket sales. You can purchase tickets here. (Visit Sandy Springs via Facebook)
• Update: a section of the Chattahoochee River in Sandy Springs will remain closed, as data is not yet below the EPA recommendations for safe water recreation. The closed section is located between the Chattahoochee Nature Center (river mile 315.5) and Powers Island (river mile 307.5). (Sandy Springs, Georgia: City News via Facebook)
• With the school year approaching quickly, the Fulton County Board of Health is offering sports physicals for children ages 12 and up at its Adamsville location. You can make sports physical appointments online here. (Fulton County Board of Health via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• No Cost Boot Camp 4 Divorcing Women Workshop (July 19)
• Latin Night Wednesdays Atlanta @ T & G - Best of Salsa, Bachata (July 19)
• Holocaust Education Symposium (July 25)
• Steven Quartly Artist Show (July 30)
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• Masonry repairs (Details)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday off right! See you soon for your next update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.